BREAKING NEWS:

The audience applauded and one man yelled “yes” as the serial killer responsible for the death of a 12-year-old Huntington Beach girl more than 30 years ago was sentenced to death around 4 p.m. Tuesday, witnesses said.

Rodney James Alcala, 66, was given the death penalty for the murder and kidnapping of Robin Samsoe in 1979 and the murder of four Los Angeles women in the 1970s. Alcala was convicted of five counts of murder Feb. 25.

“There are 36 people now that all agree that this man deserves to die,” said Robert Samsoe, the brother of victim Robin.

This is the third time Alcala has been given the death penalty for the murder and kidnapping of Robin and the first for the four Los Angeles women — Jill Barcomb, 18, in 1977; Georgia Wixted, 27, in 1977; Charlotte Lamb, 33, in 1979; and Jill Parenteau, 21, in 1979. The convictions were twice overturned on appeal.

DNA evidence linking Alcala to the Los Angeles cases wasn’t uncovered until after the second appeal.